Flocks of birds and schools of fish swarm in complicated collective motions, but groups of non-living components can move collectively, too. In this Lutetium Project video, we learn about grains Keep reading
Tag: self-propulsion
Fizzy Droplets
Leidenfrost drops surf on a layer of their own vapor, created by the high temperature of a nearby surface relative to their boiling point. These Leidenfrost drops can self-propel and Keep reading
An Inverted Leidenfrost Drop
Leidenfrost drops – liquid drops that levitate on a layer of their own vapor over a hot surface – have been all the rage in recent years. We’ve seen how Keep reading
A Groovy Hovercraft
Not long ago, researchers discovered that droplets hovering over a hot grooved surface would self-propel. The extension to this was to investigate a hovercraft on a grooved, porous surface (top Keep reading
Bouncing, Floating, and Jetting
Get inside some of the latest fluid dynamics research with the newest FYFD/JFM video. Here researchers discuss oil jets from citrus fruits, balls that can bounce off water, and self-propelled Keep reading
Swimming Microdroplets
Simple systems can sometimes have surprisingly complex behaviors. In this video, the Lutetium Project outlines a scheme for swimming microdroplets. Most of the droplets shown are just water, but they’re Keep reading
Rolling Along
Leidenfrost drops – droplets deposited onto a surface much hotter than their boiling point – are known for their mobility. With the right surface, they can be propelled, trapped, and Keep reading
Controlling Leidenfrost Drops
On a surface much hotter than their boiling point, droplets can surf on a layer of their own vapor due to the Leidenfrost effect. Recent research has shown that textured Keep reading
Self-Propelled Hovercraft
When placed on an extremely hot substrate, some drops levitate and can be propelled over specially textured surfaces. Inspired by this work, researchers are using similar principles to explore manipulation Keep reading